"Master, I know that he can be useful but he doesn't look like the type to be used as a tool."

The Quad-Spirit knew what its master was thinking but it warned him as Edward, despite being a mortal, is dangerous.

Arthur pondered for some time before turning to face the half-sleeping serial killer. The loud noise of chains caused Ed to lift his head for a second time, his black pupils gazing back at the devil standing a distance away.

"Is this what they call a devil? A fearsome appearance indeed."

As a human who lived most of his life on Earth, before it was subjected to the system and its magic, Edward wasn't that knowledgeable about those fantasy races and heard a couple of things in his long stay on the 12th floor. At first, he clearly glanced at Arthur but didn't say anything yet, this time, he took the initiative to talk.

"Be careful, master, he's very manipulative."

Arthur inwardly snorted and walked closer to the cell.

��Almost all serial killer are talkative, they lack to brag and maintain control. They are intelligent, yes, but after passing a long time in absolute solitude, it's not surprising to see them talk to themselves or turn mad.'

It's not that Arthur never possessed a serial killer, it's just that this one, Edward Ortberg, was a peculiar one, to say the least. The look on his eyes wasn't of despair, no, it was something else entirely. They contained a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Edward Ortberg, the High-way killer." Uttered the parasite with a calm tone.

"That is me, and who might this devil be?"

Ed cracked a smile as he rubbed his cold palms to provide some warmth to himself. The chains restricted his movements but he was still able to properly stand up, albeit with a bit of difficulty.

Arthur ignored the question and asked: "Why would you turn yourself if you were going to escape the prison anyway?"

At first, Edward creased his brows then shrugged his shoulders and answered: "If I didn't turn myself, they would never have caught me. It's better to get caught then escape from between their fingers. Ah! The looks on their faces each time I left. They didn't even learn their lesson… they had put me in the same prison!"

'Well, he definitely seems talkative.'

"So, in essence, you turned yourself and escaped just to show them you're in control?"

"Yes, and to let the world know about my feats."

"Feats? You consider murdering people as feats?"

Hearing this, Ed chuckled and retorted: "That's awfully hypocritical coming from a devil. I only took a few heads, nothing to brag about in front of someone like you."

"Not all devils slaughter innocents." Said Arthur while squinting his eyes.

"And not all humans are killers. They're conditioned to be."

"Conditioned?"

"Yes. You think I was born a killer? Please! That's what those religious people think! Like myself, each serial-killer has a tragic past and a trigger which made the urges surface. I doubt not that the devils, or other races, are the same as us, humans. Each human, at least once in their life, think of killing someone, either in a cruel or normal way. Anger and frustration are what lead to those thoughts, however, only a few act upon those 'desires'."

The devil's eye emitted a blue light as it focused on Edward, who didn't seem impressed or afraid. Additional information was added to the appraisal but it was only related to the murders committed by him.

"Your desires.. Were they beheading then dissecting the people traveling on the highway. Did you enjoy it?"

Ed spread his hand as if Arthur was stating the obvious.

"Why would I do something I don't like? If I thought I would regret those actions, I wouldn't have continued, or turned myself, even."

Fariya didn't know why Arthur was wasting his time speaking with the prisoner but she didn't interfere and quietly stood by her master's side.

"If you were so good at escaping prisons, why are you still here?"

"There's a limit to what a mortal can do. I can't say I haven't thought of escaping but this isn't earth, the laws there do not apply here. Humans are, more or less, equal in physical strength but here, there are supernatural beings and wit isn't enough to outsmart absolute strength. You seem to be optimistic about something which I may be interested in."

Seeing his uncomfortable stare, Arthur turned around while saying: "Forget it."

As the spirit say, Edward was too dangerous. He couldn't read him at all and even a brief exchange of words, he felt disadvantaged.

The killer didn't continue speaking either, he knelt on the floor and resumed his sleep right after Arthur and Fariya disappeared from his view.

…

"Master, you have me, you don't need his help. He's only a mortal!"

Fariya abruptly objected, seemingly wronged. Her demonic long tail swayed left and right in front of Arthur as tried to grab Arthur's attention, which was elsewhere entirely.

'Is there anyway to get his soul if I possess him?'

"No, even a parasite cannot steal a person's soul. However, there is a clan under the Whisperer King, it's known as the Soul Stealer Clan. They're wraiths capable of robbing the souls of living beings and use them to get stronger."

*****

In Habs' office, the Warden was napping on his chair but it wasn't long before the door was opened and a tall blond man entered. The warden sighed as he knew who it was without needing to look, after all, there's only one person who consistently comes here to complain, almost daily!

"Warden."

Another sigh escaped Habs' lips as his eyes remained closed. "Erandil, what else do you want?"

"Why did you not task me to escort the devil?"

The Warden opened his eyes and looked at the angel, appearing confused.

"What devil?"

"The one that succubus was escorting to the fourth level!"

Erandil didn't hide his displeasure as he whined to his superior. In response, Habs frowned and looked at the new list of prisoners, checking if there was indeed a devil.

"You must be mistaking, there are no new devil prisoners."

Erandil's expression twisted as he grit his teeth and after a few seconds, he spoke again: "That wench! What is she doing?"

The warden waved his hand dismissively and said: "Do not concern yourself with her and go back to your post. This is an order."

Even if there was an error, it would be unwise to let Erandil handle it as it'll most likely end up in a fight. Habs would rather handle it in a much more peaceful manner, furthermore, it could be a mistake in the report.

****

"Hey hey psssst! HEY!"

Midolf forcefully nudged the dormant red-haired youth. Radolf grumbled and glanced at the energetic roc, he was unhappy to be imprisoned with this vulgar person.

"What?"

The white-haired youth pointed at Zaarae's cell and spoke with a low voice: "What's she doing?"

Radolf followed his inmate's gaze and saw a relatively tall woman stretch her limbs and check her new outfit. She was previously wearing a ragged cloth that barely covered her body but now she had an exquisite black dress which made her look even prettier. Her skin was as white as snow and her features were exceptional and mesmerizing. She was really a beauty, more than their master's wife.

She did nothing to hide her charming curves, inky black hair which reached her round bottom, or the well-developed chest which would make any man salivate.

The empress had casually undone the restrictive thick chains and changed into a beautiful dress which he retrieved from god knows where. A mesmerizing and excited smile was plastered on her face as she stretched her numb limbs and got rid of the dust accumulated in her ��room'.

As she felt the gazes of the two youngster fall on her, she said: "It's nigh time to depart. You two, ready yourselves."

"What is this monster up to?" vulgarly mumbled Midolf as he pulled his gaze away and wriggled his body, trying to free himself but to no avail. Zaarae made it look so easy but a mythical roc like himself could do nothing but remain in that kneeling and pathetic position.

"You really got a sharp tongue, boy."

Midolf trembled and sealed his lips while avoiding her meaningful gaze. As for Radolf, he forced a smile and said:

"Empress, are you leaving?"

Zaarae enthusiastically nodded her head and replied: "He's almost here, I can barely wait. My heart is about to burst."

She put her hand on her rapidly beating heart and tried to calm down but the closer Arthur got, the redder her face became.

**************

A transparent figure of a tall woman was quietly watching the realistic and past events unfolding before her eyes.

Everything started from the beginning, when a small and young girl was madly running from her persistent armored pursuers. Her clothes were bloodied and her face was incredibly pale from the severe blood loss. Unfortunately, she was caught on several occasions and imprisoned more times than anyone could count.

Several years passed and the girl turned into a charming woman but the harsh environment affected her mentality. At some point she met a fine man and thought that the series of tragedies had finally ended but, alas, things only got worse and Katrina, the mother of that girl, witnessed everything, at last.

Her usually expressionless face was long gone as she saw how her daughter was betrayed, violated, and tortured for a long time. Time continued passing and Lucy became a slave and was bought by a robed figure, who turned out to be a skeleton. The Matriarch almost instantly recognized Arthur, who was much weaker than now.

The master of the White Specter Clan understood why her daughter had even forsaken her true family for that man, who risked everything for her just like she did for him. Katrina saw what happened in the Nemia Academy, how they almost died, and everything after that.

She even saw the devastating fight between Arthur and the Divine Beasts, which wrecked the Human Continent and turned into a bottomless dark abyss filled with ever-lasting flames.

"W-why didn't you just tell me?" With a shaky voice, Katrina whispered to herself as tears tricked down her face. She was aware that Lucy had a harsh past but she didn't know that it was this miserable. Everything before Arthur's arrival was but a long nightmare that no one would want their child to go through. It became much more understandable why Lucy acted like that and why Arthur stopped at nothing to get his wife back.

In addition to Lucy's past, Katrina now had a better grasp of Arthur's behavior and powers but she didn't intend to use it against him, not anymore, at least.

…

Astria, MoonStar City, main Commercial District

A graceful figure with long silver hair was walking at the side of the street while looking at the several shops and stalls, neatly ordered on the side so it doesn't hinder the customers.

Many curious gazes fell on the woman but none went to talk to her as most were cultivators and they knew she was very strong just from the domineering aura emanating from her.

Currently, Katrina was touring the bustling MoonStar city and although it was lively and peaceful, it wasn't as grand as the massive cities found in the Divine Planet or High-Realms.

The woman raised her head and looked at the sky-piercing tower situated at the center of the city, it stood proudly, layered by dozens of protective formations and surrounded by high walls enveloped by wriggling poisonous vines and moss.

An enormous bone dragon laid dormant atop the High Tower, unaware that a pair of spectral eyes was probing it.